The 20 Worst Jay-Z Songs

Let’s begin by stating the obvious: even a “bad” Jay-Z song still holds more value than the average man’s music. But some nights Jigga goes to the booth and throws together an ill-conceived song because his mind is on something more important like buying basketball teams, banging the biggest superstar in the world or trying to get Neef to lose his phone number. When these lapses in focus occur, the results are better than your average rapper’s attempts yet they sound lackluster in comparison to Jigga’s undeniable catalog. Just like MJ wasn’t allowed to put up “just 20” on a Wednesday night in Milwaukee, Jay shall never be granted an off lyrical performance on one of his own tracks.

In no particular order, here are 20 Jay songs that stand out as sub-par against the backdrop of Jigga’s much more polished products.

Do note that we didn’t include any songs where Jay was just a featured artists for a remix or collaboration. An undertaking of that magnitude would require much more space and time.

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I agree with the Best of Both Worlds album, but I like Money Aint a Thing and the City is Mine more than most of these songs on the list. Almost anything on Vol. 3 or Roc La Familia makes my list, that was an interesting stage for him.

By: Yup

05.26.2011 @ 12:49 PM

“Nas eviscerates Jay on wax”
==========================

No.

Money Aint a Thing, That Nigga Jigga and I Know What Girls Like are good in my book.

Blasphemous! Girls girls girls was should’ve won a Pulitzer. It was a brilliant rhyme scheme. You should really give it as another listen. Back in my day, they said the only dudes that skipped Girls girls, girls were the ones who never got ass. Just what they said back then…

By: Leegle

05.26.2011 @ 1:21 PM

As far as “All Around the World,” the beat was pretty nice and I liked LaToiya Williams. I wish she would come back.

“F**k All Night” Was My Shyt! I ain’t scared to say it was one of my favorite songs on BP2. 2 steps galore.

Same feeling goes for “Anything” with him and Usher. Makes me miss the night life in DC.

Damn, ya’ll ain’t like first “Anything” either? That beat bumped.

I totally agree with “Get your Mind Right.” Just plain butt cheeks.

I effed with the “Guilty…” joint as well as the joints from the first Best of… I can’t agree more on the peeing thing though. But damn, Ya’ll ain’t even rock with “Body?” Who’s shyt wasn’t that joint?

“That Nigga Jigga” was the weakest one on BP but screw it, I rocked with it.

As much flack as it took, BP3 was a good album to play when riding at night. That and Cudi’s first record made my fall of 09 I know that. But “Forever Young” did suck.

And hold the F**K up! Where’s the two atrocities that he made with B, “Hollywood” and “Bonnie and Clyde ’03?” Pac rolled over in his grave and vomited when that song came out. LMAO!

By: EC

05.26.2011 @ 1:23 PM

this list is absolute garbage… i saw the city is mine and u completely lost me… and ur gonna put get ur mind right on this too??????? awful list… point blank period

By: Phillmatic I don't Love Sneakers They Love Me

05.26.2011 @ 1:24 PM

The only song on Kingdom worth anything is Track 1 The Prelude

I agree with most of the list but I do ROC with

1. Money Ain’t A Thing – it was apart of the Soundtrack to me of Wildin at Hampton
2. Anything – from The Truth Album because of the introspectiveness
3. All Around the World – because Ms. Williams voice is so soulful

By: Mr. Genius

05.26.2011 @ 1:26 PM

KC gets alotta hate, but I feel it’s an underrated release. Cut it to maybe 10 joints and it’s one of his best albums. Features some of his most personal lyrics to date (‘Do U Wanna Ride’, ‘Lost Ones’, ‘Beach Chair’, etc.)

By: Chris Cool

05.26.2011 @ 1:28 PM

And that track with sean paul from bp2 has to be the worst song ever. Why is that not on here?

By: Crashspike22

05.26.2011 @ 1:28 PM

DEAD@ BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

I honestly forgot that this album was made. But somehow I remember the Unfinished Business album from 2004.

That was some mess.

By: Guapo

05.26.2011 @ 1:30 PM

yo ‘anything’ is a CLASSIC joint!

By: Leegle

05.26.2011 @ 1:31 PM

All I need is a skippable
===============================
BLASPHEMY!!!!!! BLASPHEMY I SAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Cal

05.26.2011 @ 1:31 PM

Man “Justify My Thug” is my shit whenever I bump the Black Album. Most folks say its out of place but I for one love the beat and his verses are sick imo.

By: Rocks

05.26.2011 @ 1:33 PM

I fux wit yall on most shit but this list is worse than the new weezy song. How can yall have BOBW up here??? That album had multiple club bangers! Money Aint A Thing? Does anyone who writes for this site go to clubs/parties? wow..

By: Jay-Z Stan

05.26.2011 @ 1:34 PM

All sorts of blasphemy in this posts. Heretics!!

By: AmpGeez a.k.a. Chief Heavy

05.26.2011 @ 1:35 PM

But BP3 is only 15 songs?

By: AmpGeez a.k.a. Chief Heavy

05.26.2011 @ 1:37 PM

KC gets alotta hate, but I feel it’s an underrated release. Cut it to maybe 10 joints and it’s one of his best albums.
^^^

All I need is a skippable as well as girls girls girls, but they are tolerable.
^^^^

Uncool, Chris.

By: AmpGeez a.k.a. Chief Heavy

05.26.2011 @ 1:39 PM

I fux wit yall on most shit but this list is worse than the new weezy song.
^^^^

Umm…I like the new Weezy song.

By: sevechild

05.26.2011 @ 1:39 PM

Just about anything from Kingdom Come and Blueprint 2 & 3 (besides Run This Town, Empire State of Mind and D.O.A.) could have been on this list.

Justify My Thug is by far one of the worst song titles of all time. Plus, how could he think that sampling Madonna would be a good idea?

I actually really liked “Anything”, even though it was clearly trying to re-create “Hard Knock Life” without the same results. Jigga must not have held it in much regard either, wasn’t that a bonus track on Beanie Sigel’s 1st album?

By: good ol rocky

05.26.2011 @ 1:39 PM

Dude… I guess i hear ya on like maaaybe 5 or 6 of those songs, but the rest are quality records. Even if some may not coincide with Jiggamans certain demeanor, they were valiant efforts.

By: Warfare Chris

05.26.2011 @ 1:41 PM

Justify My Thug is dope.

Money Aint a Thang put Jay out there for a lot of non-hiphop heads. It helped him get more and more mainstream. Take that how you wish.

By: Chris Cool

05.26.2011 @ 1:44 PM

Lmao @ uncool chirs. Alright my hate for jay-z got to me, I take that back. Hola hovito is still horrible though.

By: AmpGeez a.k.a. Chief Heavy

05.26.2011 @ 1:44 PM

Justify My Thug is dope.
^^^^^

Nah. It really isn’t, Quik track & all.

Hov needs more No Men.

By: rekstizzy

05.26.2011 @ 1:51 PM

lmao as a fan, i loved this worst songs of a great rapper list

can we get an eminem or a nas joint next?

By: AmpGeez a.k.a. Chief Heavy

05.26.2011 @ 1:57 PM

If “Do You Wanna Ride?” was on The Black Album, it would receive the proper praise it deserves.
^^^

Prolly my fave cut off KC.

Makes a lot of that other shit on there sound like…shit.

“Hollywood” anyone?

By: Mark

05.26.2011 @ 2:00 PM

Don’t think I’m going to go through every song, but kudos for not placing each one on a separate page, saves a lot of time and effort.

Websites that do that are a pain in the ass.

By: Chris Cool

05.26.2011 @ 2:01 PM

I wanna see a more challenging one. Can we get like an outkast’s worst?

By: S. Cadet

05.26.2011 @ 2:06 PM

@ PandasNeedTivo2

See now you make me want to throw some Mark Jackson cliches around.

“To The Left, To The Left!”

“Mama There Goes That Man!”

“That’s A Grown Man Move!”

“You’re Better Than That!”

I’m pretty sure I heard him say “That’s Cause You From The Suburbs!” Then Jeff started copying him. Or perhaps I got that backwards.

By: Chad

05.26.2011 @ 2:10 PM

I still bump fxck all nite, but that might be because I agree with the message.

By: Hunter Hollowed

05.26.2011 @ 2:17 PM

Lost one is one of his best songs. I will stand by that till i die. Hola Hovito never caught my attention like the rest of the blueprint. I just dont like most of timbalands production.

By: AmpGeez a.k.a. Chief Heavy

05.26.2011 @ 2:22 PM

I wanna see a more challenging one. Can we get like an outkast’s worst?
^^^

Idlewild.

Let’s just leave it at that.

By: 206venom

05.26.2011 @ 2:37 PM

I liked a lot of the songs listed here maybe im just too much of a hov fan